THE NEW MACK DADDY CALLAWAY WEDGES BY Designer Roger Cleveland, a must addition to your bag, they compliment the Rogue Line of clubs. Callawaygolf.com ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @gogBlogguy, Linkedin and Facebook at Demo day with the new Callaway Rogue Driver

Do you bet on golf ? many golfers do in one way or another.

The famed $2 Nassau, closest to the pin for a buck, or a beer. So much per hole, a skins game, Bingo, Bango, Bongo.

Those are on the course bets, what about off the golf course, pools on who wins the Masters are almost as popular as pools on the Super Bowl or the Men’s NCAA basketball tournament.

The gaming capital of America, Las Vegas Nevada has taken notice, and you can bet, they don’t miss a bet.

So early into the PGA Tour Golf season, Vegas is putting out golf bets and the line of bets you can make on golf is getting longer.

It’s no longer about betting on just one tournament, even though Masters week especially is getting pretty strong, it’s about betting on golf over the course of a season. Now on the books, sports books that is, are bets that keep fans involved long term, almost like being part of a fantasy league.

Odd’s to win a major is a newer bet, that has caught on with golf fans, and it gives those bettors four chances to win. Pick a player and if they win one of the four majors you win, the bad side is of they win more than one major, you only get paid one time.

Another full year bet is the chance to bet on who will win the Fed Ex Cup point race.

What has changed in the last two years or so, is the decreasing odds on the so-called favorites. Unless you want to bet big bucks, you won’t win much betting on Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy. The surprise is that now, up and comers like Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama are only 3-1 and 3 1/2 to 1 and they have never won a major.

The bet to win a major has become popular with betting golfers, but if all the players who can win or might win, even though they have not won a major continue to shrink, the popularity of this bet could fade.

What’s really amazing, is that Tiger Woods in spite of how much action could be placed on the declining former winner, Woods is just 8-1 on winning the Masters, and 5-1 on winning a major. Woods for years has had a nickname in Vegas, “suckerbet”, and only people with money to burn or waste still bet him. It’s been 10 years since Woods has won a major (2008 US Open), and 13 years (yes 13 years) since he won a Masters.

It is surprising that players like Jason Day are 20-1 to win the Masters, but only 3-1 to win a major. Anyone at 20-1 on the Masters should be no lower than 6 or 7-1 on the four majors bet.

Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson are your favorites to win the Fed Ex Cup Point race at 7-1, with Jon Rahm right behind at 8-1.

If you looking for bets where you can win some money try these. Phil Mickelson who is playing better again is 12-1 on a major and 18-1 on the Masters. Day is 20-1 on the Masters, Ricky Fowler is 12-1 on the Masters, but only 3 1/2 to 1 on a major. 2017 BMW Championship winner at Conway Farms Marc Leishman, is 10-1 on a major.

A few notes on our local players or guys with Illinois ties to win a major. Luke Donald and Steve Stricker are 80-1, Kevin Streelman is 100-1. Former U of I standout Thomas Pieters is only 10-1, former Northwestern Golfer David Lipsky who has had success in the Far East, is 150-1. Current John Deere Classic Champion Bryson DeChambeau is at 25-1 to win a major and 100-1 to win the Masters. Former John Deere Classic champion and 2nd place finisher at the U.S. Open at Erin Hills in 2017 Brian Harman is 20-1 to win a major.

Do remember odds change as the season goes on, and all it takes is a win or two in PGA Tour events to see a players odds drop, so don’t be afraid to jump in on the action ASAP, if you want to bet.